Coffee, Community & What’s Ahead at Nirvana Soul
A new year in the Bay Area brings a fresh sense of momentum. People are setting intentions, planning gatherings, and spending more time connecting with coworkers, friends, and community. It’s also shaping up to be an exciting season for visitors, with major events bringing new energy to San Jose, Cupertino, and San Francisco.
At Nirvana Soul Coffee, the start of the year is about grounding ourselves in what matters most: great coffee, joyful experiences, and showing up for our community.
A Local Coffee Shop Rooted in Community
It’s still mind-blowing to us that over five years have passed since we opened our first coffee shop! Nirvana Soul Coffee was founded in our hometown of San Jose and is proudly Black-owned and women-owned. Our shops were built as welcoming spaces to pause, gather, and feel at home. We’ve had the pleasure and honor to host customers from right here in the Bay, as well as from all over the country and world! Whether you’re a local regular or visiting the Bay Area for the first time, our goal is simple: serve thoughtfully crafted coffee in spaces that feel warm, inclusive, and intentional.
As the year gets underway, we’re excited to continue supporting moments big and small, from everyday coffee runs to live community events, meetings, and celebrations.
Below is a rundown of all the ways we bring people together through the power of coffee & tea. ☕️
Nirvana Soul After Dark Open Mics: Live Every Friday 🎤
One of the ways we bring people together is through our open mic nights, hosted every Friday from 6:00 PM–9:00 PM at our flagship location in Downtown San Jose.
Nirvana Soul After Dark is a space for:
Local artists and creatives
Spoken word, music, poetry, and storytelling
Community members looking to connect through art
Whether you’re performing, supporting a friend, or just looking for something to do on a Friday night, NSAD is a great way to experience the creative energy of our community… over coffee, of course. 😄
Artwork & Popups at Nirvana Soul
We’ve exhibited more than 100 local artists across our shops in San Jose, Cupertino, and San Francisco. It’s one of our favorite parts of the biz! We regularly display artwork from artists of all experiences, backgrounds, ages, and mediums.
Each location is uniquely special in large part because of the artwork on display. This means the shops are living, breathing spaces, continuously evolving with the artists and customers who make it their own.
We also host small and local vendors at our shops. You can set up a table inside or outside, on weekends and/or at Nirvana Soul After Dark, with treats, trinkets, goodies, and more. We love sharing our space with you!
If you’d like to exhibit with us this year or pop-up at any of our shops, please email us at hello@nirvanasoulcoffee.com.
Visiting the Bay Area for Major Events? 🏈 Find Local Coffee Nearby
This year, the San Francisco Bay Area is welcoming visitors from around the country for large-scale events, including Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, CA! If you’re traveling to San Jose, Cupertino, or San Francisco, finding a great local coffee shop near Levi’s Stadium can make all the difference in how you experience the event.
Nirvana Soul Coffee is a great stop if you’re searching for:
Coffee shops near downtown San Jose
Coffee near Cupertino and the South Bay
Local cafés in San Francisco neighborhoods
Black-owned coffee shops in the Bay Area
Our locations are designed to be approachable and community-driven, which is perfect for starting your day, taking a break between events, or discovering neighborhoods beyond the stadiums and convention centers. As the host city, San Jose will have A LOT going on. We’re excited to keep football fans fueled all Super Bowl weekend with our three coffee shops in DTSJ:
The shop we’re probably most known for is our SoFA shop at 315 S 1st Street, right next to Original Joe’s and our Soul Street neighbors Jackie’s Place and Ashy Aromas. (This is also where we host Nirvana Soul After Dark.)
For those who are out and about near San José State University, we also have a location at 150 E San Fernando Street. Be sure to check the hours because these might be shorter than our other shops.
And for those on the go (or staying at Hotel De Anza), we have an express shop right inside the historic hotel that offers a smaller selection of specialty lattes and pastries at 233 W Santa Clara Street.
Planning Meetings, Gatherings, or Events This Season 📆
The beginning of the year is a popular time for:
Team meetings, sales kickoffs, and offsites
Community gatherings
Watch parties and celebrations
Social events with friends and family
Nirvana Soul Coffee offers catering and pop-up service throughout the Bay Area. Our catering menu includes customer-favorite specialty lattes and classic coffee and tea, along with gourmet pastries from The French Spot. We offer flexible options, from easy self-serve setups to full barista service, depending on the size and style of your event.
If you’re planning ahead for events in the coming weeks, early booking helps ensure availability during busy periods. February will fill up fast with Black History Month and more; make sure you get your requests in as soon as possible!
(BTW, we DoorDash! You can order a traveler, lattes, waffles, pastries, and more right from our website or the app. These orders are available for delivery or pickup in our Cupertino shop only. Stay tuned for special offers!)
Exploring San Jose, Cupertino & San Francisco This Winter
Winter is a great time to explore the Bay Area at a slower pace, which for those of of locals, is not always what we’re used to. 😅 Walking around Downtown San Jose, spending time in Main Street Cupertino, or exploring San Francisco with your Nirvana Soul Coffee latte in hand is such a fun way to spend a day in the Bay! (Our classic pink gradient cup turns a lot of heads!) Plus, supporting local businesses is one of the best ways to experience the culture of each city.
Our cafes are meant to be part of that experience. Connect, recharge, and enjoy really good coffee while you’re here!
Also, we have cool merch to walk around in. Right now, we have hoodies for the cold in-store and online. We also have our newest t-shirt, the Nirvana Soul Baby tee, which is a collaboration with one of the first local artists who ever exhibited with us, the incomparable Akeem Raheem!
Get swag, coffee equipment, beans, and more here.
Meet us in the shops! ☕️
There’s good energy around 2026! Do you feel it? We’re spending much of this year standardizing our operations (a forever goal), building more leaders within our existing team, and finding ways to reach more of our community in meaningful and engaging ways, especially IRL. Being human-centered is what Nirvana Soul Coffee has always been about. It’s how we knew another coffee shop was needed.
We’ve been incredibly fortunate and overjoyed that our beautiful community continues to grow with us too.
With all of the excitement around all of these cool events coming to our hometown, our amazing customers who continue to support us (by visiting our shops, catering with us, hosting private events, and generally vibing with our mission to bring people together), and all the ways we know we’ll keep building this thing together, we can’t help but feel good about this year.
So for all of you who are:
Starting the year with intention
Visiting the Bay Area for a major event
Looking for great local coffee in San Jose, Cupertino, or San Francisco
Attending an open mic on a Friday night
Planning a meeting or gathering
We’d love to welcome you into our shops! 🤗
Learn more about our locations, events, and catering options at nirvanasoulcoffee.com or on our social channels @nirvanasoulcoffee. 💕
xoxo, Be’Anka
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Nirvana Soul Coffee located?
Nirvana Soul Coffee has locations in San Jose, Cupertino, and San Francisco. Each coffee shop is designed as a welcoming, community-centered space serving handcrafted coffee, specialty drinks, and sweet and savory waffles.
Is Nirvana Soul Coffee a Black-owned business?
Yes. Nirvana Soul Coffee is proudly Black-owned and founded in San Jose. Supporting local and community-rooted businesses is central to who we are.
Do you host live events or open mics?
Yes. We host open mic nights every Friday from 6:00-9:00 PM, featuring local artists, musicians, poets, and creatives. Nirvana Soul After Dark open mic Fridays are open to performers and guests and are a great way to experience our community in the evenings.
I’m visiting the Bay Area for a big event. Is Nirvana Soul a good place to stop?
Absolutely. If you’re visiting the Bay Area for major events like Super Bowl LX, Nirvana Soul Coffee is a great local stop for coffee in San Jose, Cupertino, or San Francisco. Our cafés are ideal for morning coffee, meeting up with friends, or taking a break between events.
Do you offer catering for meetings or events?
Yes. Nirvana Soul Coffee offers catering and pop-up service throughout the Bay Area. Options include self-serve coffee setups or full barista service, along with gourmet pastries from The French Spot. Catering is available for meetings, offsites, celebrations, and community events.
Do I need to book catering in advance?
We recommend booking catering as early as possible, especially during busy periods or weekends with major events. Early booking helps ensure availability and smooth planning.
What kind of drinks and food do you offer?
Our menu includes customer-favorite specialty lattes, classic coffee and tea, and seasonal offerings. We also serve sweet and savory waffles, as well as gourmet pastries from The French Spot, with options available both in-store and for catering.
Are your cafés good for groups or meeting up with friends?
Yes. Nirvana Soul Coffee is a popular spot for small groups, casual meetings, and social gatherings. Our spaces are designed to be comfortable, welcoming, and community-oriented.
How can I learn more or plan a visit?
You can explore our locations, events, and catering options at nirvanasoulcoffee.com.